Signs show Texas' haul will pay off

By Mike Finger :
January 31, 2012
: Updated: February 1, 2012 7:12am

FILE - In this Dec. 3, 2011, file photo, Texas head coach Mack Brown reacts to play in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Baylor, in Waco, Texas. Texas regents are expected to give football coach Mack Brown a four-year contract extension to keep him with the Longhorns until 2020. The new deal doesn't change his annual salary, but is designed to end rumors that Brown is considering retirement.

Photo By TOM REEL/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, the nation's top recruit, will choose between UT, Missouri and Arkansas today.

Photo By L.G. Patterson/Associated Press

The nation’s top recruit, Dorial Green-Beckham (left), smiles as the crowd chants "MIZ-DGB" as he arrives courtside just before the Missouri-Texas Tech basketball game on Saturday in Columbia, Mo. Green-Beckham will choose between UT, Missouri and Arkansas today.

Photo By AP

In this photo taken Friday, Dec. 9, 2011, Aledo running back Johnathan Gray takes off on a touchdown run in the third quarter against Corsicana Tigers in a Class 4A Division II semifinal high school football game in Mesquite, Texas. Gray was named the Texas Associated Press Sports Editors Player of the Year on Friday, Dec. 16, a day before he was to play his final prep game assured of being at least the second-most prolific running back in state history.

Photo By AP

In this Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011 photo, high school football legend Kenneth Hall, left, poses for a picture with Aledo High School player Johnathan Gray in Aledo, Texas. Hall, nicknamed the "Sugar Land Express," set a state record in 1953 for Houston-area Sugar Land High School with 57 single-season rushing touchdowns. Gray broke that record in 2010 after rushing for a record eight touchdowns in the championship game, giving him a total of 59 rushing touchdowns for the year, and this year set a record for career scoring, surpassing Hall's 899 points.

Dawson running back James White (2 with ball) finds room to roam thanks in part to the blocking of Kennedy Estelle (77) and Josh Lewis (72). Dawson defeated Angleton 27-23 in the Class 4A Division I state quarterfinals on Dec. 3, 2011 at The Rig in Pearland. White ran for 134 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in the conest.

Kennedy Estelle OL, Sr., Dawson

Photo By Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle

Dawson High School Kennedy Estelle, left, celebrates touchdown by teammate Neiman Gilbert, right, against Reagan High School during the first quarter of football game at Galena Park ISD Stadium Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, in Houston.

Photo By Bob Levey

Clear Springs' Marcus Johnson #6 leaves the field behind him as he returns a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown against Cinco Ranch during a high school football game Saturday, September 10, 2011 in League City, Texas,

AUSTIN — Texas has a chance to win another title today, and if the Longhorns do, some will immediately dismiss it. For a program that's spent two years symbolizing underachievement, a so-called recruiting “championship” might only accentuate the contrast between potential and results.

But the history of classes rated as highly as the one UT is expected to sign today suggests this isn't just about hype. Almost without fail, recruiting hauls like the Longhorns' latest lead to overwhelming success. And without exception, every national championship team of the past decade has been built upon such a class.

That class became the foundation of the Longhorns' 2005 national championship team. And it was part of an extended trend that's proven that February success has a direct correlation to winning in January.

Of the 16 recruiting classes ranked first or second by Rivals from 2002-09, nine won national championships. Eleven played in a Bowl Championship Series title game. Twelve finished in the Associated Press top 10 more than once. And 13 of the 16 had at least one top-five finish (the only exceptions were the 2002 Tennessee class, the 2005 Florida State class and the 2008 Notre Dame class).

In addition, it has become evident that attracting a highly rated group of recruits is an absolute prerequisite to winning a national title. Each of the last 10 AP national champions has had at least one class rated in the top five by Rivals.

In compiling a 13-12 record over the past two seasons, the Longhorns were plagued by a lack of talent among their upperclassmen. But according to the national recruiting services, that dynamic is changing. UT had Rivals' No. 3 class in both 2010 and 2011, and this year's group is considered even better.

The Longhorns still have hopes of landing Springfield, Mo., wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, the nation's top overall recruit, who's scheduled to pick between UT, Arkansas and Missouri today.

But even without him, the Longhorns' haul is loaded with vaunted potential stars. The jewels so far are record-setting Aledo running back Johnathan Gray and Brenham defensive tackle Malcom Brown, both five-star prospects who could contribute right away.

Scottsdale, Ariz., quarterback Connor Brewer has already enrolled in school and will compete this spring with David Ash and Case McCoy for playing time. Other players listed in Rivals' list of the nation's top 100 recruits include Athens athlete Kendall Sanders, Austin wide receiver Cayleb Jones, Pearland offensive lineman Kennedy Estelle and DeSoto offensive lineman Curtis Riser.

And although UT is known for wrapping up most of its recruits early, the Longhorns got a late boost during the past week by getting commitments from Plano West defensive end Bryce Cottrell, Pflugerville athlete Daje Johnson and Van linebacker Dalton Santos.